Apparatus and process for conditioning mammalian blood

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for conditioning mammalian blood for subsequent use in a medical procedure includes a cabinet having a secure environment and a door providing the only access to the environment. An input system transports a blood charge from a source to the cabinet and a flask is removably contained in the secure environment and coupled to the charge input system to receive the charge. Stressors are coupled to the cabinet and positioned for operation to create a conditioned charge in the flask. An output system is coupled to the flask and includes a receiver for the conditioned charge. The apparatus includes an automated control system operable upon closing the door to lock the door and to then condition the charge, and to then cause the charge to move from the flask to the receiver.

This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No.09/662,706, filed on 15 Sep. 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,788, whichclaims the benefit of 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/154,215, filed 16 Sep. 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for treating mammalianblood by preparing a blood charge, and treating the charge to prepareconditioned charge in preparation for injecting the conditioned chargeinto a patient as part of a medical procedure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various treatments have been proposed for the treatment of mammalianblood ex vivo to condition the blood in some way before injecting theblood into a patient. Some procedures take blood from a patient,condition the blood, and then return the blood to the same patientcontinuously. These procedures contrast with procedures which requirethat the blood be taken from the patient to be treated as a batch andthen returned to the patient. In batch processes there is thepossibility that the blood will be given to the wrong patient as well asthe dangers inherent in transferring blood from one location to another.Also, batch treatments are potentially hazardous because of the risk ofblood contamination during the process of conditioning the blood andalso because of the potential for infecting the operator accidentally.

The present invention is directed at the problems inherent in the batchprocess of treating mammalian blood.

A blood treatment process using batch treatment techniques involvesthree main steps. Firstly, the blood is sourced either from a donor orfrom a patient, who will also be the patient receiving the conditionedblood. The blood may be mixed with an anticoagulant and the blood chargemust then be transferred to apparatus used to condition the charge.Finally, the conditioned charge has to be collected and prepared forinjection into the patient. These steps involve the use of needles(sharps), tubing, valves, syringes and ancillary parts and connectors.At every stage it is important to minimize risk so that the charge ismoved and treated without contamination, and so that none of the chargecomes into contact with the operator running the procedure.

Accordingly, it is among the objects of the present invention to providea process and apparatus for receiving a blood charge, conditioning thecharge, and preparing the conditioned charge for injecting into apatient while minimizing the risk of contamination and spillage.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a disposable flaskassembly for use in a machine designed to condition a charge in theflask assembly and prepare the conditioned charge ready for injection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one of its aspects, the invention provides apparatus for conditioningmammalian blood for subsequent use in a medical procedure. The apparatusincludes a cabinet having a secure environment and a door providing theonly access to the environment. An input system is provided fortransporting a blood charge from a source to the cabinet and a flask isremovably contained in the secure environment and coupled to the chargeinput system to receive the charge. Stressors are coupled to the cabinetand positioned for operation to create a conditioned charge in theflask. An output system is coupled to the flask and includes a receiverfor the conditioned charge.

The apparatus includes an automated control system operable upon closingthe door to lock the door and to then condition the charge, and to thencause the charge to move from the flask to the receiver. As a result, acharge from the input system is conditioned and delivered to thereceiver, the door is then unlocked and the conditioned charge is readyto be removed and used to complete the medical procedure.

In another of its aspects, the invention provides a cabinet for use inconditioning mammalian blood for subsequent use in a medical procedure.A blood charge is conditioned in a flask and the cabinet has a frontdefining a front recess and a top defining a depression adjacent to thefront recess. A door is hinged for movement between an open position anda closed position in which the front recess and the depression arecovered by the door to create a secure environment, and a lock iscoupled to the cabinet and to the door to lock the door in the closedposition. A cavity extends downwardly from the top depression within thesecure environment, and is adapted to receive the flask. A controlsystem is coupled to the door lock to sense the condition of the door toestablish that the flask is securely positioned in the cabinet and thatthe door is locked before the charge is conditioned. The charge can thenbe conditioned in the flask securely within the cabinet.

In yet another of its aspects, the invention provides a cabinet for usein conditioning mammalian blood for subsequent use in a medicalprocedure. A blood charge is conditioned in a flask and the cabinet hasa front, a top, and a door hinged for movement between an open positionand a closed position in which at least a portion of the front and aportion of the top are covered by the door to create a secureenvironment. A lock is coupled to the cabinet and to the door to lockthe door in the closed position, and a cavity extends downwardly fromthe top wall within the secure environment to receive the flask. Acontrol system is coupled to the door lock to sense the condition of thedoor to establish that the flask is in the secure environment within thecabinet, and that the door is locked before the charge is conditioned.

In still another of its aspects, the invention provides a flask assemblyfor use in apparatus having a cabinet made to receive the flask assemblyfor conditioning mammalian blood. The flask assembly includes a flask inthe form of an envelope defining a substantially enclosed volume, andincluding a top and a bottom. The top has an access opening and anoutlet, and a connector assembly is coupled to the top of the flask. Aprobe extends from the connector assembly, through the access openingand has a top end and a leading end. The probe is sealed in the accessopening and defines an input lumen for transporting a blood charge tothe bottom of the flask, an output lumen for transporting conditionedcharge from the bottom of the flask out of the flask, and a gas lumenfor feeding gas into the flask to condition the charge when a charge isin the flask. The connector assembly includes outlet tubing coupled tothe outlet to lead spent gas out of the flask, and inlet tubing coupledto the gas lumen. A pair of gas connectors is coupled to the platformand connected to the respective gas inlet tubing and to the gas outlettubing to make gas connections when the flask assembly is mounted in theapparatus. As a result, when the flask is engaged in the cabinet, thegas connections engage a gas supply system for conditioning the chargein the flask before removing the conditioned charge.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a process is provided oftreating mammalian blood in a blood charge to provide a conditionedcharge for giving to a patient in a medical procedure. The processincludes the steps of providing an automatic apparatus for treating theblood charge to create the conditioned charge, and for presenting theconditioned charge ready for use. The apparatus has a secureenvironment, a door controlling access to the environment, a flask, andstressors arranged to operate on a charge in the flask in the controlledenvironment. The blood charge is transported into the secure environmentthrough thermoplastic inlet tubing for deposit in the flask, and thetubing is then sealed and severed. Next the part of the inlet tubingoutside the secure environment is removed and the operation of theautomatic apparatus is initiated so that the stressors will operate onthe charge for a predetermined period, thereby stressing the charge inthe flask while maintaining the secure environment. The apparatus isthen given time to transport the conditioned charge from the flask to areceiver, and the door is opened to provide access to the receiver foruse to give the conditioned charge to the patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, in all its aspects, will be more fully understood withreference to the following drawings taken in combination with thedescription. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of apparatus used in practicing a process ofconditioning blood charges in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe invention and including a cabinet;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a disposable flask assembly adapted foruse with the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the flask assembly in position in thecabinet and showing structure used to condition the charge;

FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the flask assembly showingdetails of the construction; and

FIG. 5 (drawn adjacent FIG. 3) is a sectional view on line 5—5 of FIG. 4and drawn to a larger scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The invention will be described initially with reference to FIG. 1,which shows the apparatus generally, and then more detail will be givenwith reference to further drawings. As seen in FIG. 1, apparatus,designated generally by the numeral 20, includes a cabinet 21 having afront 22 and an inclined top 24. A hinged door 26 is attached to thecabinet 21 to one side of the front to move about vertical hinges 28between an open position shown in FIG. 1, and a closed position (notshown) where it covers a front recess 30 and a top depression 32. Thedoor is equipped with a locking bar 34 which engages in a recess 36where it can be retained to hold the door in the closed and lockedposition to create a secure environment inside the cabinet 21.

As will become evident from further description, the apparatus 20 isshown after it has been prepared for use to condition a blood charge ina accordance with the process of the invention. The apparatus 20 will bedescribed in this position to provide a general understanding of theapparatus and then in more detail with reference to the process andsubsequent Figures.

The cabinet 21 is designed to be secure while the charge is beingconditioned. As will be explained. The apparatus 20 includes anidentification system 37 so that the apparatus 20 can be used by anoperator only after a patient has been designated and identified by theapparatus by way of a discrete smart card (not shown) which has to beinserted by the patient in a first slot 38. A second smart card isinserted by the operator in a second slot 40. The patient keeps thepatient's smart card so that the apparatus can be used only by theoperator in the presence of the patient until the apparatus is ready totreat another charge. The smart cards can be used to store datadeveloped during operation of the apparatus and can become a permanentrecord of the procedure.

A third slot 42 in a printer door 44 will produce a printed record ofthe treatment as required.

The operator controls the apparatus using a graphical display terminal(GDT) 46 having a touch screen interface pad overlaid on the GDT. TheGDT serves to interrogate the operator to ensure that every requiredstep is completed in the required sequence. Errors and instructions arealso available on the GDT.

As mentioned, the door 26 can be moved into a locked and closed positionto cover the front recess 30 and the top depression 32. In the positionshown in FIG. 1, a sterile flask assembly, designated generally by thenumeral 48, has been lowered into the cabinet such that part of theassembly 48 can be seen projecting upwardly into the depression 32. Aninput syringe 50, and an output syringe 52 have been removed from theassembly 48 ready for use. The input syringe 50 is used to source acharge and pass the charge through thermoplastic inlet tubing 54 to aflask 56 which can be seen in FIG. 2. After treatment in the flask 56,the conditioned charge is drawn through outlet tubing 58 from the flask56 into the syringe 52 by an actuator 60, as will be explained later.For the moment it is sufficient to understand that there are threestages to the treatment. Firstly, the charge is sourced and passed bysyringe 50 to the flask 56 (FIG. 2). Next, treatment takes place in theflask 56 and then the conditioned charge is drawn automatically from theflask into the output syringe 52 ready for injection into the patient.All of these steps are controlled by the apparatus 20 in such a way thatthere is a limited risk of contamination of the charge, and of exposingthe charge to the operator. Further the patient is identified by theidentification system 37 in such a way that if the charge is sourcedfrom the patient for subsequent return to that patient, the treatedcharge will be available only when the patient presents his/her smartcard to thereby ensure that the right patient gets the charge.

Reference is next made to FIG. 2 to describe the main features of theflask assembly 48 as it would appear in a sterile condition ready forplacement in the cabinet 21 (FIG. 1). The flask assembly 48 will besupplied in a sterile container which will also include most of theitems needed for the procedure. These will include needles, tubing,gauze etc. as is commonly done in medical procedures requiring sterileitems for the procedure.

The assembly 48 is made up of two main parts, namely the flask 56 and aconnector assembly 62 which serves to carry components used in thetreatment procedure. The assembly 48 is shown as it would be placed inthe cabinet 21 (FIG. 1), with the input syringe 50 and output syringe 52mounted side-by-side on the connector assembly 62. The assembly 62 isshown from the back as opposed to from the front in FIG. 1. It will beseen that the connector assembly includes an overhanging portion 64which will meet parts of the apparatus contained in the cabinet 21 whenthe flask assembly 48 is lowered downwardly into the cabinet 21. As willbe described, electrical and gas connections are made automatically whenthe assembly 48 moves into its final position in the cabinet 21. Also,the overhanging portion 64 provides clearance under the portion 64 toallow the inlet tubing 54 to be fed from the input syringe 50 to asupply probe 65 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

The syringes 50 and 52 are conveniently stored on the connector assembly62 between a central shaped mound 66 (FIG. 1) and respective locators 68and 70 which are sufficiently flexible to allow the syringes to beengaged and held in place. Further location is provided by respectivechannel portions 72, 74 which receive respective flanges 76, 78 on thesyringes 50 and 52. This interengagement locates the syringes 50, 52longitudinally but does not interfere with vertical removal of thesyringes 50, 52.

As seen in FIG. 3, the flask assembly 48 is located in the cabinet 21 bya shelf 80 having an opening 81 for the flask 56, and below the shelf, alocator 82 having an opening 84 which is also proportioned to receivethe flask 56 loosely. The connector assembly 62 rests on the shelf 80about the opening 84 to locate the flask assembly 48 vertically and inproper relationship with two of the stressors to which the charge is tobe subjected. One of these stressors is heat supplied by an infrared (a)heater 86, another is ultraviolet (UV) light provided by an UV radiator88 positioned about the flask 52. Also, in the process of lowering theflask assembly 48 in the cabinet 21, the overhanging portion 64 of theconnector assembly 62 brings electrical connectors and gas supplyconnections together as will be explained after describing FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 also shows the shape of the flask 56. It extends about alongitudinal axis 89 and has a generally cylindrical main portion 90. Atransitional portion 92 extends from the portion 90 to a cup 94proportioned to receive about 12 ccs of charge from the input syringe 50FIG. 1).

The supply probe 65 will be described more fully with reference to FIG.5. For the moment it is sufficient to understand that the function ofthe probe 65 is to supply charge to and remove conditioned charge fromthe flask 56. Also, a mixture of ozone and oxygen is fed through a lumenin the probe 65 and a temperature sensor is provided in the probe 65.Heat from the IR heater 86 causes the charge to heat and that togetherwith the gas supply, causes the charge to bubble and fill the flask 56.The large surface area so formed is then subject to UV light from theradiator 88. These stressors are used to condition the charge before itis delivered by the apparatus to the output syringe 52, (FIG. 1).

The probe 65 is located centrally in the cup 94 by a solid extension 96at the end of the probe 65. The extension fits closely inside acylindrical socket 98 formed in the bottom of the flask 58, andextending from the cup 94. The extension 96 is placed in the socket 98during assembly and the socket is crimped from the outside to retain theextension 96 in the socket 98 and to thereby secure the supply probe 65in the flask 56

The flask 56 is essentially an envelope made by blow moulding a parazonof low density polyethylene (LDPE) and has an internal volume that isabout 70 times that of the charge. The walls are translucent to allowpenetration of the UV light stressor.

Reference is next made to FIG. 4 which is an exploded view of the flaskassembly 48 with the syringes 50 and 52 included. This assembly includesparts of several systems. Firstly an input system made of partsassociated with receiving a charge and placing it in the flask 56 readyfor conditioning it. Next, an output system is made up of parts relatedto extracting the conditioned charge from the flask 56, and lastly,parts related to gas supply and recovery system.

The charge is received in the input syringe 50 which is connected by thethermoplastic tubing 54 to an elbow 102 forming part of the probe 65.This elbow leads to an intake lumen 104 formed in an extruded main body106 which can be seen in the cross-sectional view, FIG. 5. This view istaken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4. The intake lumen 104 extends to a leadingend 108 of the probe adjacent the extension 96. Consequently, the chargecan be fed into the cup 94 of the flask 56 by actuating the syringe 50to move the charge through the inlet tubing 54, through the elbow 102,and then via the lumen 104 into the cup 94.

The second set of parts is related to the removing the conditionedcharge. The syringe 52 is the prime mover so that when it is actuated,the charge is drawn from the cup 94 into a return lumen 109 at the end108 of the probe 65. The charge then passes through the lumen 109leaving via an elbow 110 which in turn leads to outlet tubing 58 and tothe syringe 52.

The third set of parts mentioned above relate to a gas supply andrecovery system creates ozone from oxygen and supplies and removes anozone/oxygen mixture. Oxygen from a replaceable oxygen supply cartridge114 passes through an ozone generator (not shown) built into the cabinet21 FIG. 1). Connections to the flask assembly 48 are made automaticallywhen the assembly 48 is lowered into the cabinet as describedpreviously. To facilitate these connections, a pair of nipples 116 (oneof which can be seen in FIG. 4) engage in suitable receptors (not shown)in the cabinet. The nipple that can be seen in FIG. 4 is connected togas exhaust tubing 118 which leads to an in-line filter 120 havingfittings for sealably connecting to a cup 122 formed in a top 124 of theflask 56. The exhaust gas from the process is carried by these parts toan exhaust system as is conventional when using ozone.

The connector assembly 62 includes a moulded platform 126 shaped tocarry the various components. As indicated in FIG. 4, the outlet filter120 is normally mounted in a holder 128 shaped to receive thedisk-shaped filter 120.

The connection to the gas supply is made using the hidden nipple 116which supplies gas to a gas inlet tubing 130. In turn, the tubing 130directs gas to an in-line filter 132 which is associated with standardconnections to send the gas to a gas supply tubing 134. The filter 132is arranged to engage in a support 137 formed in the platform 126, andan elbow 135 on the probe 65 is connected to the tubing 134 to lead thegas to a gas lumen 136 in the extruded probe main body 106. This lumen,like the intake lumen 104 and return lumen 109, leads to the end 108 ofthe main body which will be submerged in charge when the charge isentered through the lumen 104.

The probe 65 also locates a temperature sensor 138 exposed near the end108 through a side opening 140 cut into the side of the main body 106. Asterile sleeve 142 of very thin filmic plastics material encloses thesensor, but because the sleeve 142 is thin, there is a rapid temperaturetransfer to allow the sensor 138 to respond quickly to changes intemperature.

The sensor 138 is connected by conductive ribbon 144 which extendsthrough a larger lumen 146 (FIG. 5) in the probe 46, and then to aconnector 148 mounted on the platform 126. This connector 148 is adaptedto engage a corresponding sliding connector 150 (FIG. 3) mounted in theshelf 80 of the cabinet 21. The connector 150 cooperates with theconnector 148 to connect the temperature sensor 138 to a control systemindicated generally at 151 in FIG. 1 and contained in the cabinet 21(FIG. 1).

The assembled supply probe 65 is passed through a receiver 152 formed inthe top 124 of the flask 56, and the extension 96 at the leading end ofthe probe 65 is manoeuvred into the socket 98 under the cup 94 of theflask 56. The socket 98 is then crimped from the outside sufficiently topositively locate the extension, and hence the probe, relative to theflask 56. At the same time a seal 154 under a collar 156 on the outerend of the main body 106 is brought to bear against the receiver 152 andheld in compression while the socket 98 is crimped. As a result theprobe is sealed in the flask with a gas tight seal.

After this assembly, the platform 126 and the parts mounted on theplatform are attached to a cover 158. This is done by the use of twoself-tapping screws 160 (one of which is shown) which pass throughopenings 162 and engage in respective bosses 164 formed in the platform126.

The sub-assembly of the platform 126 and the cover 158 is then attachedto the flask 56 using snap-fitting structure 166 formed on the flask 56and on the cover 158. This structure is discontinuous around the flaskso that there is only one way to attach the sub-assembly to the flask 56thereby ensuring that the parts line up correctly to engage the cup 122on the flask 56 and to provide the necessary clearance under theoverhanging portion 64 of the connector assembly 62 for the varioustubing, gas connections and electrical connections.

The flask assembly 48 then receives the syringe locators 68 and 70 whichsnap into respective slots 168, 170 formed in the top of the cover 158.The outlet tubing 58 is then fed through an opening 172 at the back ofthe cover 158 and attached to the syringe 52. Similarly, the inlettubing 54 is attached to the syringe 50 and the syringes are engaged onthe cover 158 to be held in place (as previously described) by thecombinations of the mound 66 with the respective locators 68 and 70.

The completed flask assembly 48 is sterilized and packaged for use asmentioned earlier.

The main structural details have been described. Some details have beenomitted because they are more readily described with reference to theprocess of conditioning the charge using the apparatus. That processwill now be described and those parts of the structure that have notbeen mentioned will be included in this part of the description.

The process in general is designed to source suitable mammalian bloodeither by using compatible blood or by using blood taken from a patientwho is to receive the treated blood. This process will be described forthe latter case but is not to be limited to that case.

The apparatus must be readied for use by placing the operator's smartcard in the slot 40. A patient's smart card comes with the packagecontaining the flask assembly 48 and is given to the patient for thepatient to place the card in the slot 38. The GDT 46 then proceeds topresent instruction, error messages, and comments as the procedureprogresses.

Once this is done, the door 26 is unlocked by the control circuit, and anew flask assembly 46 is removed from its sterile package and loweredinto a cavity in the cabinet to take up the position shown in FIG. 1 andfurther illustrated in FIG. 3. At this point the syringes 50, 52 are inplace on the connector assembly 62.

Next the input syringe 50 is lifted from its position on the connectorassembly 62 and placed conveniently with the inlet tubing 54 passingthrough a heat sealing device 174 which is attached to the cabinet 21for use to seal and sever the inlet tubing 54 as will be explained. Theinlet tubing 54 has a locator 176 mounted on the tubing to position theinlet tubing 54 in the device 174.

The output syringe 52 is then removed in similar fashion and placedvertically as shown in FIG. 1. The syringe 52 is located in a fixedmount 178 using the flange 78 and a syringe operator 180 extendsdownwardly and is engaged in an actuator 182 which can be driven along aslide 184 by a motor and drive (not shown) in the cabinet. Thisoperation will be described with reference to removing a conditionedcharge.

The outlet tubing 58 associated with the syringe 52 is led through asecond heat sealing device 186, and a locator 188 on the tubing 58positions the outlet tubing in the device 186. This device 186 will beused after the conditioned charge is drawn into the syringe 52, as willbe explained.

A message on the GDT 46 (FIG. 1) reminds the operator to close the door26 and the door lock bar 34 is engaged. The control system 151 (FIG. 1)activates the door so that the cabinet can be opened only by using thetwo smart cards. Consequently the smart card carried by the patient isnecessary so that no one other than the patient can cooperate with theoperator to get into the cabinet 21. The patient's smart card ispreferably attached to the patient's wrist in a semi-permanent fashionusing a suitable band of the type commonly used in hospitals.

The input syringe 50 is still in the condition shown in FIG. 2. AT-connector 190 includes a valve controlled by a selector 192 whichconnects the body of the syringe to either an in-line port 194, or aside port 196 at right angles to the axis of the body. The inlet tubing54 is attached to the port 196 and the port 194 is available.

A needle (not shown) is attached to port 194 and about 2 ccs of an anticoagulant (preferably sodium citrate) is drawn into the syringe. Theneedle is discarded into a sharps container and then a tubing assembly198 FIG. 1) is attached to the in-line port 194. This assembly 198includes a one-way valve 200, to avoid back flow, and at its leading endan angel wing collector set 202 is ready for engagement into the patientto collect blood. The collector set is used to draw 10 ccs of blood intothe syringe 50 where it is mixed with the sodium citrate by rocking thesyringe gently to create a blood charge for treatment in the processaccording to the invention.

Next, the selector 192 on the T-connector 190 is operated to connect thebody of the syringe 50 with the side port 196 leaving the tubingassembly attached but inoperable. The syringe 50 is then inverted (i.e.placed with the T-connector uppermost) and about 3 to 4 ccs of sterileair are drawn from the flask 56 into the syringe. The syringe 50 is thenagain inverted so that the air is above the charge and the syringe isthen operated to drive the charge through the inlet tubing 54 and intothe flask 56 driven by the air in the syringe. As a result the inlettubing is cleaned out as the air follows the charge.

It is now time to discard the input syringe. 50 and associated parts.Before this can be done, the syringe 50 has to be separated from thecabinet 21 to which it is connected by the inlet tubing 54. This isachieved by operating the heat sealing device 186 which seals and seversthe tubing under the influence of heat.

Once this step is completed the input syringe 50 and attached parts arediscarded.

It should be noted that the door 26 (FIG. 1) has not been opened duringthis procedure and that the charge of blood and sodium citrate has beenreceived in the cup 94 of the flask 56 (FIG. 3). It should be noted thatalthough the process is too condition blood, to be accurate the processtreats blood as the prime part of a charge which also contains ananticoagulent, (or any other additive). Consequently the term “charge”is used to describe a batch made up of blood and at least one additive.However if circumstances arise in which blood can be treated alone, suchuse is within the scope of the term because mammalian blood continues tobe the subject of the treatment and it is not intended to exclude suchan interpretation.

The next stage of the process can now begin. The control system 151 inthe cabinet 21 takes over and starts the IR heater 86 (FIG. 3) toelevate the temperature of the charge. This is one example of a processknow generally as “stressing” the charge and the IR radiator is known asa “stressor”. The temperature is elevated to about 42.5° C. and iscontrolled from a reading originating with the temperature sensor 138.Once the selected temperature has been reached, the control systemactivates a second stressor. An ozone generator sends an oxygen/ozonemixture into the flask 56 through the probe 65 as described earlier.Also, the UV light source 88 (third stressor) is activated so that theheated charge is simultaneously stressed by the ozone/oxygen mixture andby the UV light simultaneously for about 3 minutes. The bubbled chargefills the flask and is then allowed to settle and cool for about 6minutes so that bubbles in the charge will tend to settle.

At this point the charge has been conditioned and the GDT 46 (FIG. 1)will respond to the control system to give the operator a message thatthe smart cards will be needed to withdraw the conditioned charge.However the door 26 (FIG. 1) will not open until the charge is availablein the output syringe 52 even if the cards are inserted at this stage.On the other hand, if the charge is in the syringe (as will beexplained) and ready for removal, the door 26 will remain closed unlessthe cards are inserted.

Next the apparatus will commence the step of moving the charge from theflask 56 (FIG. 3) to the output syringe 52 (FIG. 1). This is doneautomatically by the actuator 182 seen in FIG. 1, which draws theoperator 180 downwardly. A knocker 204 is then driven to tap the syringeat a rate of about 1 Hertz to break any resident bubbles. The knockerconsists of an impact tool 205 mounted in the recess 30 of the cabinet,and driven to strike the syringe 52 gently thereby deflecting thesyringe sideways to store energy in a coil spring 207 positioned on theopposite side of the syringe from the tool 205. The energy in the springthen causes the spring to rebound thereby pushing the syringe back intocontact with the impact tool 305 ready for the next Impact. Thefrequency can be varied and will to some extent depend on the geometryand mass of the parts. However, it has been found that a frequency of 1Hertz with a spring having a spring rate of between about 0.1 to 5N°provides good results.

Next the actuator 182 is operated to express some of the contents of thesyringe 52 back into the outlet tubing 58 until there remains a volumeof 9 to 10 ccs of conditioned charge. A sensor (not shown) in the heatsealing device 186 tells the control system in the cabinet 21 that thesystem is ready to seal the outlet tubing 58 in similar fashion to theseal made on the inlet tubing 54 as previously described.

The process has now reached a critical point. If the patient has notinserted the patient's smart cad by now, the apparatus will wait onlyfor a predetermined time (usually about 20 minutes) before aborting theprocess. If the process is to be aborted, a message will appear on theGDT 46 (FIG. 1) and the control system will cause the actuator 180 todrive the syringe operator 182 so that the conditioned charge isreturned to the flask 56 before shutting down the process. Once this isdone the operator can open the door 26 using only the operator's card sothat the flask 56 and its contents can be discarded to ready theapparatus 20 for a new process.

If the patient presents the card in time, the respective smart cards areinserted into the slots 38, 40 and the heat sealer 186 will seal andsever the tubing 58, the door 26 will open, and the output syringe 52 isthen available for removal from the cabinet 21. However, before this isdone, the patient must be prepared for the injection of about 8 to 9 ccsof conditioned charge. Firstly, the patient is anaesthetized in theGluteus Maximus muscle using a suitable needle and performing thestandard procedure for ensuring that the needle has not been insertedinto a vein. Next, the anaesthetic syringe is removed and the needle isleft in the patient. The output syringe 52 is then taken to theanaesthetic needle and after discarding the remaining tubing 58 from theheat sealing operation, the output syringe 52 is attached to theanaesthetic needle and the conditioned charge is fed into the patientslowly. After this procedure, the output syringe and attached needle arediscarded.

The apparatus can then be prepared for the next procedure by removingthe remains of the flask assembly 48.

It will now be evident that the process can be used to treat mammalianblood in a blood charge to provide a conditioned charge for giving to apatient in a medical procedure. In general the process includes thesteps of providing an automatic apparatus for treating the blood chargeto create the conditioned charge, and for presenting the conditionedcharge ready for use. The apparatus has a secure environment, a doorcontrolling access to the environment, a flask, and stressors arrangedto operate on a charge in the flask in the controlled environment. Theblood charge is transported into the secure environment throughthermoplastic inlet tubing for deposit in the flask, and the tubing isthen sealed and severed. Next the part of the inlet tubing outside thesecure environment is removed and the operation of the automaticapparatus is initiated so that the stressors will operate on the chargefor a predetermined period, thereby stressing the charge in the flaskwhile maintaining the secure environment. The apparatus is then giventime to transport the conditioned charge from the flask to a receiver,and the door is opened to provide access to the receiver for use to givethe conditioned charge to the patient.

Improved control can be provided by the preferred use of smart cards, asexplained, and by the use of thermoplastic tubing and heat sealers toensure that the secure environment is maintained. Also, the process canbe enhanced by use of the knocker to reduce the time needed to dissipatethe bubbles in the conditioned charge

It will be appreciated that the described embodiments of the apparatus,and of the process associated with the apparatus, can be varied withinthe scope of the claims and that such variations are within the scope ofthe invention.

1. Apparatus for conditioning mammalian blood for subsequent use in amedical procedure, the apparatus comprising: a cabinet having a secureenvironment and a door providing the only access to the secureenvironment; an input system for transporting a blood charge from asource to the cabinet; a flask removably contained in said secureenvironment and coupled to the input system to receive said charge;stressors coupled to the cabinet and positioned for operation to createa conditioned charge in the flask, said stressors comprising an oxygensource removably coupled to the cabinet, and an ozone generator coupledto the oxygen source to generate an ozone/oxygen mixture for delivery tothe flask; an output system coupled to the flask and including areceiver for the conditioned charge; and control means contained in thecabinet and operable upon closing the door to lock the door and to thenautomatically condition the charge and to cause the charge to move fromthe flask to the receiver, whereby a charge from the input system isconditioned and delivered to the receiver, the door is then unlocked andthe conditioned charge is ready to be removed and used to complete themedical procedure.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inputsystem includes an input syringe operable to draw blood to form at leastpart of said charge, and input tubing connecting the input syringe tothe flask to transport the charge into the flask.
 3. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the input tubing is thermoplastic tubing,and in which the cabinet includes a first heat sealer operable to sealand sever the input tubing, whereby the input syringe can be separatedfrom the cabinet and flask for subsequent disposal.
 4. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the input syringe includes a valvedT-connector having first and second ports so that the first port isavailable to draw the charge and the second port is attached to theinput tubing for use to transport the charge to the flask.
 5. Apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein the flask has an internal volumesufficient to permit the charge to bubble thereby increasing the surfacearea available for the stressors to condition the charge.
 6. Apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein the flask includes a main portiondefining an internal volume to receive the charge and a connectorassembly coupled to the main portion.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim6, and further including a probe coupled to the connector assembly andcontained in the main portion, the probe extending to a leading end andhaving an input lumen coupled to the input system to deliver the chargeinto the internal volume and an output lumen coupled to the outputsystem for delivering the conditioned charge to the output system. 8.Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the probe further includes agas lumen coupled to one of said stressors for delivering a gas stressorto the charge to cause the charge to bubble.
 9. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the probe further includes a further lumen and atemperature sensor positioned in the further lumen for monitoring thetemperature of the charge.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, whereinthe lumens extend to the leading end.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim8, wherein the lumens extend to the leading end.
 12. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 9, wherein said further lumen ends adjacent saidleading end at a side opening and in which the temperature sensorterminates in the side opening for better thermal contact with thecharge.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, and further including afilmic sleeve surrounding the temperature sensor to avoid contactbetween the sensor and the charge.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9,wherein the temperature probe further includes an extension engaged insaid further lumen at the leading end of the probe and extendingdownwardly, and in which the flask includes a socket at the bottom ofthe main portion and extending downwardly to accommodate at least partof said extension to locate the probe in the main portion of the flask.15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the socket is crimped tohold the extension in the socket.
 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein one of said stressors is an infrared source positioned in thecabinet under the flask for radiating the charge to heat the charge inthe flask.
 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of saidstressors is an ultraviolet source positioned in the cabinet forsubjecting the charge to ultraviolet light to stress the charge in theflask.
 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabinet includesa cavity for receiving the flask in a downward movement, the cavitybeing positioned to locate the flask in relation to the stressors. 19.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabinet includes a frontrecess, and a top depression above the recess, the door being shaped tocover both the front recess and the depression when the door is in theclosed position.
 20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein thereceiver is an output syringe.
 21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, andfurther including an actuator attached to the cabinet and positioned tooperate the output syringe as directed by the control means to firstdraw the conditioned charge from the flask and to then be used to injectthe charge into the patient.
 22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, andfurther including thermoplastic output tubing connecting the flask tothe output syringe to transport the conditioned charge to the syringe.23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, and further including a secondheat sealer attached to the cabinet and positioned to be operated by thecontrol means to seal and sever the output tubing between the flask andthe output syringe.
 24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, and furtherincluding a knocker attached to the cabinet and positioned to rap theoutput syringe to dissipate any bubbles in the conditioned chargecontained by the output syringe.
 25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the control means includes an identification system forrecognizing a first identifier carried by the operator, and a secondidentifier carried by the patient, the identification system beingadapted to recognize and to then permit the operator to operate theapparatus.
 26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and further including anoperator card reader for reading discrete information on a card used toidentify the operator of the apparatus to prevent unauthorized use. 27.Apparatus as claimed in claim 26, and further including a patient cardreader for reading discrete information on a patient card used toidentify the patient so that the patient can be identified bypresentation of the patient card to the patient card reader. 28.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and further including a printer forproviding a printout of data relating to the procedure for an individualpatient.
 29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control meansincludes a graphic display interface for the operator.